Gerald Wayne Soper (2025)

FUNARO, HODSON, HOFFMAN, ROE, SCHULTZ, SOPER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 1/29/2025 at 16:47:29

Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home
Winterset, Iowa

May 4, 1936 — January 27, 2025

Gerald Wayne Soper (1936-2025) - Son, farmer, husband, soldier, father, teacher, guidance counselor, papa.

Gerald Wayne Soper, 88, passed away January 27, 2025 surrounded by his loving family, after a sudden battle with cancer.

Gerald (“Jerry” or "Soap") was born May 4, 1936 to Olin and Myra (Schultz) Soper. He was welcomed into the family by his older brother, Delbert LeRoy Soper. Later to join the family were, Evelyn, Karen Kay, and Lila May. The family lived on 16th and Walker Street in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1946 they moved to a farm south of Rising Sun, Iowa. Gerald attended Polk Hill Country School, then Altoona Jr. and Sr. High School. He was a multi-letter winner in football, basketball, and track. He graduated in 1955. After graduation, he started farming dairy cows, pigs, and 300 acres of crops, with help from his father. Gerald was joined in marriage to Coleen Ann Hodson (daughter of Harold and Elizabeth Hodson) in November of 1956.

In November of 1958, Gerald was drafted into the US Army. After basic training, Gerald and Coleen were sent to Center Line, Michigan. He was with the 407th Technical Intelligence Unit US Ord. Upon his honorable discharge, he started college at ISTC in Cedar Falls, Iowa. However, after one year and a summer, the army decided they needed Gerald back in uniform; there was trouble in Berlin, West Germany. So, Gerald and Coleen were stationed at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona. It was not a fun place to be in 1962.

Finally out of the service, Gerald attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa for his Bachelors in Education; and later his Masters in Guidance. In November 1965, Gerald and Coleen completed their family by welcoming a son, Stacy. Gerald taught school in Algona (Econ and History), Van Meter (Government and Guidance Counselor). and Waukee (Guidance Counselor and Work Study). He worked with hundreds and hundreds of wonderful kids, and only a couple stinkers. He retired in 1996.

Once retired, Gerald and Coleen moved to Sun Valley Lake in Elston, Iowa and then to Winterset in 1998 where they spent the remainder of their years.

Soap will always be remembered and greatly missed for his ornery personality. He always had a joke to tell or a trick to play; anything to cause a smile or laugh out of someone. He was active and intelligent across a wide range of topics. He enjoyed "snow birding" in Yuma, Arizona with Coleen; visiting flea markets, riding bikes, playing pool or poker, and taking trips to Mexico for the day. In his later years, Soap loved to attend auctions and was a “regular" at Hartman's Auction. He was often seen buying a whole bin of miscellaneous items that no one else seemed interested in. He enjoyed sorting through and sharing these little treasures with his family. He loved to work on bicycles and lawn mowers, of which he owned many. Poker was another one of his favorite pastimes. You might call him to talk and he'd be sitting around a poker table with his buddies, complaining about them always stealing his money. Soap was active with St. Paul Lutheran Church where he attended service regularly and enjoyed serving coffee and socializing. More than anything, "Papa Soap" loved the children in his life. He enjoyed their laughter and spending as much time with them as possible. He was most proud of his family.

Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, Olin and Myra Soper; his wife of 48 years, Coleen; his sisters, Evelyn and Karen; and his brother, Delbert.

He is survived by his sister, Lila May (Joel Mac) Roe; his son, Stacy (Karla) Soper; his grandchildren, Chas (Chelsy) Funaro, Joe (Sadie) Funaro, and Chelsea (Lucas) Hoffman; his great grandchildren, Alice, Charlie, and John, Adyson, Camden, Ruby, Emery, and Drake; numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends; including his special friend, Teressa Casson.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Sunday, February 2, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winterset. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 3, at the church. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Waukee Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church.